Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22

| portraits of her fathers most renowned vas
sails, but il any among them had stirred hel
heart none knew it, not even her faithful
maid, Grunelle. She hunted and rode and
played her harp and worked her tapestry
with serene mien, and hung over her father
with tender ministration; but prince after
prince rode away from the palace more than
ever the beautiful Ethne's slave, further than
ever from Florimond's throne.
Then Florimond began to wax a little
angry, as the best of men will when they find
themselves thwarted by a woman's obstinacy,
and he swore by the bones of his forefathers
that he would give a six days tournament, to
which eli his neighbors and princely vassals
should be hidden, and on the sixth day Ethne
must choose one for her husband. Such an
obedient child was she that she smiled and
kissed his anger away.
The tournament came off at length, after
vast preparation. Florimond's capital was
thronged with strangers, and squires dozed in
the saddle in the streets, while their noble
masters were content to sleep upon bare floors.
All the beauty and the chivalry of the world
was assembled; all that man and wealth could
do was done to make the tournament of Ethne
the Fair %unequaled. And nature, smiling,
viewed the gay pageant. The Field of Love
was a great plain outside the gates, and thither
thousands wendell their way from early dawn.
At the extremity of the inclosed lists was a
raised dais covered with purple velvet, andup-
on this was placed the golden throne of the
queen of the tournament, shaded from the
June sun by a canopy of silver and azure.
Right glorious was theday. The green earth
was bathed in the golden sunlight, and the
~1fk e,,,,l:-lt -Jo,~ol -,;%L> kl1 1.L:1.9 <rn~~..
and touched their rounded necks like a trem-
bling lovers kiss. Heralds rode up and down
the lists, p~roclaiming in sonorous voice their
knights deeds of proves. More than 800 of
the proudest and bravest princes and dukes
of Christendom had entered the contest, and
as knight after knight paid his obeisance to
the queen many a brave bosom swelled, and
many a noble warrior vowed to perform
prodigies which should win a look of regard
from those matches orbs. But though the
princess joined in the storms of applause
which greeted each valiant deed, and be-
slowed upon each victor bis need with words
Of gracious cheer that sent the blood tingling
through the veins of the kneeling knight,
there was no tenderness in the tranquil eyes,
no carmine upon the pale cheek; twas as if
angel had smiled upon man, and still wa
angel, and be but man.
Florimond upon his lofty throne of rurest
gold, with proud princes bending their knees
before him, was like q sun amid planets: yet
as day pressed upon day, and Ethne made no
sign, the cloud upon his lofty brow deepened,
and upon the eve of the fifth day DO sought
Ethne and swore by his troth that he would
permit no further trifing. upon the NOR
row thou must make thy decision. Is it pos
sible that of the 800 knights who entered tile
lists not one has found favor in thy sightf
Then Ethne turned to him and said: Dear
father and sovereign lord, be not wroth with
daughter and humble subject. ! live but
to obey thee, and whatever thou dost COM
nand, that will 1 do"
She put her soft arms about his neck and
fell to great weeping, and Florimond was sore
perplexed, for he was a most tender man, yet
also was he a mighty monarch whose word
YOU not be broken, and hOuld be permit
The princes of the east and tue north and the
and the south to depart, s~corning q doting
father and a spoiled, capricious maid!
So he loosened the clinging arms and bent
bis brow and stamped his heel.
"Thou hast heard; show that thou hast
and was striding from the chamber, |
when Ethne FRUSTRATED herself at his feet.
"Most gracious king" she duplicated, moi
The meanest OF thy serfs implores a hearing in
vain; wilt thou deny thy daughterY
"Thou hast me there; but think not, Ethne,
10 cajole me. do not think in fashioning |
thee so fair God hath left out that chiefest |
joy in woman, a heart. Tell me not thou
,anst not care for a lover. By st. John full |
many a gallant youth nave ! seen these days
comedy to look upon. Were l q maid !
could not say him nay l ween. And yet thou |
1ast met looks of languishing love with glance
cold it did freeze the marrow in the |
onger's bones. TITS true what they say, thou
art Ethno the Icy Hearted. No, thou hast
10 heart. Yes, thou hast, too. for 1 have
marked thee weep over q sQualling child's |
yet thou art rock when thou knowest |
much 1 wouldst joy didst thou love some
knight to whom l could say: 'Wel-
como, ny son."
"Father," said Ethne, II have a heart, and
not more than other maidens am I insensible
manly worth and valor and beauty; but l
say to my heart: Thou must when
t cries out it cannot; and not until it would
ell me would / marry. A noble sight those
knights have afforded us, and well did
delight therein. And yet, if in the 800 I
aw not ten to whom I could I give a second
lance am I to blames Can I force my heart
o beat when it fain would be stilla But four
the 30o have remained unapproached vic
OTIS. 1t is from these will make my choice.
'erchance some one will speak the word I
ave never yet heard. Yet my father, King
'lorimond, need not fear to trust his daugh-
er's word"
Full we'll pleased was Florimond. Robert
he Bold, Hugh the Great, Tancred the Wise
young Bernard Of Pascarene, gallant
nights all. True, Bernard of Pascarene had
tile besides his noble name and his trusty
word; but said she not something of a speechi
hen it should be Tancred, who should rule
IS kingdom and keep up his fame.
Thousands f1ocked to the Field Of Love tho
ext DAY, for it was announced that the Queen
t Love would choose a husband from the four
princes.
The wrestlers failed to attract q single
laudit, the fitting passed by unnoticed. All
yes were rfveted upon the Queen of Love.
no sat upon her golden throne, CARRIED in
urest white, for so gloriously lovely was ,
lis gem it needed not rich setting. In her
ght hand she held q great crimson.hearted !
,ea
After the min awards were made. mid
reathless silence entered the four knights.
Robert the Bold, on his coal black !
eed. whose proud step showed he knew a j
'n1ueror dressed bis back. Robert dis.